A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2004

Crisis constitutes of ala1ming features in the world today. It affects labor, health and education. It has a negative impact of the economy of any country especially if the country happens to be export oriented since the value of the respective country will be devalued in valuation with US Dollars. It can lead to closure or downsizing of various manufacturing factories. Such factories employ women workers on a large scale as it does not require specialized skills with poor working conditions. But, the women workers could benefit from stable monthly income, secure job and access to social security. In order to stabilize the economy, the countries adopt structural adjustment policies provided by the World Bank and IMF. These policies are bias towards women and tend to leave out women in development. After their retrenchment in an unfairly manner, the women workers dispersed to other areas for employment and undertook other forms of employment related to their previous skills or "woman skills". The major focus of this research is to investigate the impact of the post economic crisis on the retrenched women workers in Thailand at the chosen research area such as Pathmunthai province, Samut Prakarn province and Bangkok. In spite of the economic growth, the retrenched women workers have been marginalized and deprived from entering the mainstream economy. Lack of opportunities has further pushed the retrenched women workers into the info1mal sector that itself is a web that consists of low minimum wages, unprotected labor laws, worse working conditions that leads the retrenched women workers into the pool of vulnerability. It has been found out that the retrenched women workers lived a very stressful and a hopeless life. Some of the retrenched women workers still await justice from the labour court. Since the responsibility of the family falls on the shoulders of the women, they have to balance their productive and reproductive roles. In doing so, these women workers take the initiative to find jobs fast to earn the household income. They do not get the opportunity to enhance their skills and instead of improving their lives, they have to adjust to their new life with the support of their friends and family members who are their strong source of social capital. The life history of the retrenched women workers and their current employment status has been illustrated with qualitative research methodology. Moreover, lack of social security benefits from the government has marginalized the women workers as well. The problems of old age have hampered the women workers from developing their life style. Recommendations for the needs of the women workers are provided as support mechanism and recommendation for further research that will enhance to examine their situation and steps to be fu1ther taken to solve it.